Shaama Ghungroo, Arathi S. Gadwalkar, Prabhakar K, Raveesha A
BACKGROUND Dengue is a mosquito borne infection and is a major public health concern around the world. There has been a rapid increase in the infection rate and nearly 400 million people across the globe are at risk of dengue infection. This infection is caused by dengue virus (DENV) which is a member of the genus flavivirus of the family flaviviridae, and is a single-stranded positive sense RNA virus. There are four DENV serotypes (DENV 1-4) found in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe DENV cycles between the vectors viz; Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and human beings. MATERIALS AND METHODS This observational study was carried out at R L Jalappa hospital the teaching hospital of Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Tamaka, Kolar, Karnataka. The study period was from October 2016 to January 2017. A total of 72 patients who were diagnosed as dengue fever who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. RESULTS The number of male patients was 49 contributing to 68% and the number of female patients was 23 contributing to 32%; maximum were in the age range of 26 to 45 years (70.8%). With highest number of patients presenting with fever and pain abdomen (n=32) as the most predominant clinical presentation followed by fever and breathlessness (n=12). Hepatomegaly has been the most predominant clinical sign followed by icterus and petechiae. Dengue serology results indicated that out of the 72 patients, 55 patients were positive for NS1Ag (76.3%), 10 patients had IgM positivity (13.88%) and 7 patients had IgG positivity (9.7%). Ultrasound abdomen showed findings of thickened and oedematous gall bladder (n=53, 73.6%), free fluid in abdomen (n=32, 44.4%) and hepatosplenomegaly (n=43, 59.7%). CONCLUSION The present study suggests that fever with abdominal pain could be one of the presenting symptoms among the patients infected with dengue virus and a radiological evaluation might be of relevance in medical management of dengue infection.
